SoD Day 50 LS 4 3 4 Friday ... sad afternoon

I see only now that yesterday's heading reads 'Bat' at work, rather than 'Back' at work. It's kind of funny, so I'll just leave it like that.

Lady Sybill is very happy to stay indoors! She ventured all the way to the lounge last night, but showed no interest in going out any door - she much prefers dashing back to her own room! Mini is still a problem, and the others are also hissing at her. I'm hoping that, in time, her smell changes to make her more 'part of the family'.

Today the weather has turned yet again. We've had hot, then cold, then hot again - today we're going through another cold day. Very cold! It's past noon, and not even 20 Celsius!

Aaaand load shedding going up a Stage again. We were supposed to be Stage 3 until tomorrow morning 05:00, but now we're going to Stage 4 at 16:00 today. Fortunately that doesn't affect our schedule - we're off 14:00- 16:30 and again 22:00 - 00:30 

Funny thing, we were scheduled from 06:00 - 08:30 this morning ... but the whole Group stayed on, not just our area, but Pretoria North, as well.

I think this calls for some baking and hot stew this weekend, don't you?

Right now, I can't decide whether to publish now or whether I'll write more later ... I think I'll leave it open, to publish tonight.

I got home, and started a bit of gardening. I picked all beans, started cleaning up the plants in the bed a bit, when I noticed Smeagol's girlfriend was just sitting on the other side of the fence. Not active, just sitting there. She wasn't looking well, so I decided to take a bowl of wet food to her. I put it down in front of her ... and she didn't even touch it! Just gave it a bit of a sniff, then whimpered.

I panicked. I went inside, got the cat carrier, grabbed her - got bitten and scratched, because I didn't get a good hold on her ... washed my wounds and sprinkled silver powder on them. Tried to get mine to go inside, screeched at them when they weren't cooperating ... got in the car ... and then thought 'what if the vet closes early on Fridays?' Called ahead - was told that no vet is in, I can book her in and when a vet comes in, they'll take a look.

She's the long hair cat. In the bottom picture, the one looking into the camera.

I was barely back at home, when the vet's called. Dr had come in, taken a look ... she's in a bad, bad state. He suspects either feline AIDS or leukemia or both. The best to do is to euthanise ... but they need my permission.

I didn't hesitate. Better she doesn't suffer any longer ... 

Now, I need to get her babies trapped again, so I can have them tested. And poor, poor Smeagol! She was the love of his life! No wonder he's been behaving strange lately ...

Well, I'm sure you can imagine, I'm not in the mood for much, now. I've arranged to get traps again. I've had a bath. I've eaten only the last of the dumplings - I don't feel like anything more ... it's twenty past seven ... I'm just going to go to bed now ...

SoD Day 49 LS 3 4 Bat at work Thursday

Lady Sybill seemed fine this morning - just wish I could spend more time cuddling her! I closed the door, just in case. No incidents during the night ...

I got up late, I'm afraid. Off to work ... 

My delivery has arrived! I opened the boxes to find the work scissors ... they were in the biggest box! Together with the DVD. Huge box for two small items ... 

I should go and get groceries ... but I just really don't feel like it. All I really need is chicken hearts for the ferals ... oh, I know! I can use the pets mince I bought! Cool!

They just collected the over-delivery of the cat food. Phew! Finally! Matter closed.

I'm not feeling too well, again. Headache, feverish ... and no motivation whatsoever! Not for anything.

Well, load shedding tonight from ten to midnight again, and tomorrow morning from six to eight. So, phone audiobook again ...

I just want to go home, and cuddle Lady Sybill! I wonder how she's doing? Has there been growling through the door? How will Mini tolerate her?

Last night, when I scratched Mini's ears, after cuddling Lady Sybill, I got growled at - teeth fletching ... then she turned her back on me! Ai, ai ... anyway, might a well publish now ...

SoD Day 48 LS 2 1 2 3 Off sick Wednesday

After some internal debate, I chose to take today off. This sudden drop in temperatures has affected me, so ... 

I took a hot bath last night, which helped. I slept quite well, and woke up just a tad too late to turn off the PC for load shedding at six. It was still turning off when the power went off ... and poof!

Of course, my mind is trying to plan jobs to do today ... defying the whole purpose of 'sick leave'. Silly mind!

Well, I've put on LotR to play in the background ... I've made myself a fresh pot of coffee ... now I'll do a bit of thinking.

Okay, I've taken some club steaks out of the chest freezer and put them into the freezer drawers under the fridge, for easy access. I'm still not happy with the organisation of the chest freezer - but I think I'm being unrealistic here. I want the convenience of an upright, drawers freezer from an chest freezer. And really, with the bags, it's not really such a major effort to get to what I want. I only have a limited supply of those paper bags, though ... so, one day ... 

Oh, sheez! Just got mail from Zuki flip-flopping back to the 'we'll arrange collection' of that extra box! Sent yesterday, apparently. After four, that's why I didn't see it earlier. Well, I've put it back in the car ... if they don't arrange with ME, as in time and date, then I can't meet their arrangements.

Sheez, it's more effort returning THEIR mistake, than anything I've ever ordered online!

I've turned on the geyser, so I can wash the dishes. On a cold day, like today, the hot water will be a pleasure, rather than a nuisance.

Done. Now ... f*cking internet! It's showing 5 bars signal, but nothing works. I've double checked my data - still plenty available. Honestly, there are times when I long for the old dial-up modem connections! Yes, they could be frustrating - but at least you knew where you stood! You didn't have every indicator showing that 'all is working very well' ... when nothing IS working.

I decided to spend some time in the garden. Just simple weeding. I've come to the conclusion that I must make a plan to spend time in the garden EVERY weekend. It's not a treat or reward or luxury, it's a necessity. The effect on my well being is noticeable! I feel so much better, even though I haven't really achieved much - I cleaned around my thyme bush and my plum tree.

Then I was hungry, so I heated up some dumplings. Quite filling and tasty, too!  I'll heat the rest of them tomorrow night.

Aaaand load shedding is ramping up again! From tomorrow at five, we'll enjoy Stages 3 and 4. For us here, that means that instead of 1 x 2 hours a day, we'll enjoy 3 x 2 hours load shedding a day, starting at six tomorrow morning! Six to eight, two to four and ten to midnight. Cool, eh? No explanation given.

I went outside and did a bit more weeding. Fed the ferals. Watered. Then sat outside with my mippies ... when it was time to call them in, I couldn't take Lady Sybill looking at me - again - forlornly ... so I grabbed her and brought her inside. I moved the mushrooms, cleaned a litter box, put down a food bowl and a water bowl for her. I'm leaving the door open tonight, but will close it tomorrow when I go out.

I've showered ... and guess what? We're now at Stage 3! Implemented at 18:11. So power will go off from ten to midnight tonight. I'm now charging my smartphone, so I can play my audiobook on it through the night.

SoD Day 47 LS 3 1 2 Tuesday

I did make spaghetti last night! Mondays are still okay, I'm not yet knackered by the time I get home.

Lady Sybill now comes running at top speed when I call her! I gave her her special treat, keeping Smeagol's fat head out of the bowl, ha ha! We cuddled. When I was coming out for a last cigarette, she came cautiously and hopefully towards me ... who can resist that? So I gave her another bowl of wet food! Vimes still hisses at me, and the other two don't approach when I'm too close ... 

This morning I found the long haired mommy cat on my veranda, looking all bedraggled ... we've had some rain. As a matter of fact, I took Sybills bowl through the rain to their hut, earlier - she only got the second one later, when it had stopped raining. I checked their box, with the blankie - it's totally dry. Even though the floor around it is wet.

It's quite cold today. We had only 4mm rainfall yesterday - pretty much while I was driving home. Yesterday maximum was closing in on 30 Celsius, today we're just over 20! That's quite a temperature drop!

I started capturing receipts, and then started going through my online invoices, etc. Kind of organising my whole financial system ... I got so caught up, I forgot the time ... fortunately that was quite early, still.

Now it's just gone four ... might as well publish now ... 

SoD Day 46 LS 1 2 3 Monday

Yesterday afternoon, Eishkom announced that Stage 1 would continue until 05:00 this morning. If it wasn't for the app EskomSePush, there's no way to keep up with the schedule! Remember months ago, when I laboriously compared Eskom's Stages against our schedule per stage, then summarised it chronologically? And every time Eskom changed their schedule, I had to start again from scratch? Then type that out to send via WhatsApp to our neighbourhood?

EskomSePush has improved to the point where they announce changes to Eskom's schedule almost instantly - they are faster than Eskom's twitter, any news or even the Eskom FaceBook page. I can take a screenshot of the Eskom announcement, if I want to send that - and now, our Group's schedule, can be shared with a simple share button!

WhatsApp has also improves, so I can now share to multiple parties at the same time - whereas in the past, I had to send to each one individually.

Apps adapting to the 'new normal' of continuous load shedding ...

And nowhere can I find any reference to the State of Disaster declared over the Electricity Crisis. It seems to be forgotten ... 

I picked the meat off the chicken last night, after all. Mippies were very happy to see me 'play' with food they could share! They got a healthy portion, ha ha! I'm thinking of cooking more spaghetti tonight, chop some celery, mix it with the chicken and some mayo ... that'll stretch it.

I just paid my rent, my credit card and bought more electricity ... I'll need to do next month's budget. First, though, I'll need to update this month's - which is a bit tricky, separating the stock-piling from the monthly purchases.

Load shedding tonight from four to six and again from midnight till two. No PC audiobook tonight ... back to my phone tonight. I have only 5 audiobooks loaded on my phone ... well, it'll do.

Well, might as well publish now ... 

SoD Day 45 LS 2 0 1 Sunday

Relatively early morning. Mips are in hyper cuddle mode ... I can't move without a mip following to see where I go ... as soon as I sit, one or two look up to occupy my lap. Janey, in particular, has a thing for being on my lap. She's there now. Ziva is curled up on the cat tree, waiting her turn ...

I have a lot of work to do today, though. And I must be finished by four. It's already eight, so I have eight hours ... sigh ...

An hour later, I've hung up the bedding - it just needs to air out a bit, as I left it in the machine overnight. I've put the duvet into the machine, vacuum sealed the butternut and packed the leftover spaghetti and mince into bags in the freezer.

Next, I'll make the bread ... I haven't quite decided, yet, whether to bake rolls or just make the loaf in the machine. It depends on whether I have enough energy to make meatloaf as well. On the whole, I think not. So I might as well pack the mince into bags and into the freezer ...

At least my toilet is finally fixed!

Half past ten, bread is in the machine, dishes are washed, bedding is folded and packed away, last load is on the line ... there are still clouds in the sky, but it doesn't look like rain. Nor is any forecast. 

Right. Half past eleven, I've packed the mince, letting it pre-freeze now. Chicken is in the pressure cooker ... I can relax. At least for a while.

A short while ... plenty of little tasks to be done. 

Just past one, bread is cooling on the rack, chicken is resting in the oven. Yes, in the oven. When you have four cats, you need a safe place to leave a chicken outside the fridge ... and the oven is safe. They can't get in. 

I've made dumplings, then added the rest of the flour (that was in the bowl, but didn't get absorbed by the dumplings) to the broth, making it a sauce. I've re-filled the Iams bin. The one in the kitchen, from which I refill their kibble dispenser during the week. I've polished my shoes.

In between, of course, I make plenty of time to cuddle mippies. Everywhere. On the bed, in the driveway, on my armchair, where ever I find them, or they come at me with a cuddle attack!

I tried taking a nap ... no use. Not with load shedding looming, and tasks needing electricity still ahead. So, I've vacuum packed the mince, packed away the dumplings, washed the dishes ... that's the electricity needing tasks out of the way ... three quarter hour till load shedding. I'll shower afterwards. I still have to finish the chicken, too ... sigh ... 

Almost ten to four. I've cleaned the litter boxes ... I still need to clean mippies fountain, and process the chicken, and pack my lunch ... I feel like I've done more than enough today, surely the rest of the jobs can do themselves? Ha Ha! Yeah, I wish ...

Since I don't know whether I'll have internet tonight, I suppose I better publish now. Internet has been mostly dodgy today, anyway ... just about managed to open this page and write. Let's hope I can publish ...

SoD Day 44 LS 2 1 2 Saturday

Back at home, I see load shedding was downgraded yet again. So: no outage from six to eight Friday night! Good!

I wasn't feeling very well, I suppose the change in weather is getting to me ... on Monday we went over 34 Celsius, yesterday we just reached 25 Celsius. Both maximum temperatures, both in the shade. That kind of drop takes it out of one ...

I was debating whether to just flop on the bed, potter about ... or make an effort and tend to my tomato plants. I opted to do the latter - and started feeling a lot better, almost immediately! Gardening always does that for me!

Showered, made myself dinner ... bed ...

This morning I woke up bright and early ... it rained during the night, and looks like more rain today ... still, I have to do my laundry! Managed to get it washed before load shedding - eight to ten this morning. Hung it up on the stand, which I took outside to the veranda.

And then I realised, that I had forgotten to take the chicken out of the freezer! Crap! Took it out, but it'll have to defrost until tomorrow.  Then I decided to change my bedding - took it all the way and removed even the base cover. Which - thank you, Mewthos - yeah ... yellow stains. Then I brushed off the protective cover, which had a visible layer of dust ... Mewthos was quite enthusiastic about me changing the bedding! Trouble was, he's covered in blackjacks!

Once the power came on, I put all the bedding in the machine, added two kitchen towels and my bathroom towel as well. I forgot to add the bread bag. Again! Sigh ... I've unpacked all the cat food, re-packed the Royal Canin - I mix the different types so they get a different one each time.

Now, I'm trying to work myself up to start cooking the chicken hearts and liver ... only ... the bag leaked and my whole vegetable drawer is layered in ... blood ... which needs cleaning. Sigh ...

Okay, I've cleaned the drawer and the chicken hearts are frying. They don't smell at all, this time. In the past, when I bought chicken hearts, they didn't look very good - dark red, drying out. Having no experience, I thought that's normal. This time, however, they were very, very fresh - still frozen, in fact. So, another lesson learned! I won't buy them again, when they look dark red. I saw the butchery also sells them - in frozen packs.

Okay, the chicken hearts and livers are done. And I forgot my harvested tomatoes outside ... sigh ... they got rained on. Not a problem for the tomatoes ... only for the box they're in.

Right now, I'm trying to get my rear into gear to wash the dishes ... my favourite chore ... NOT!

Well, almost done.

Right. Twenty to seven and I'm done. Knackered, too! I made tomato paste, I'm afraid I let it burn a bit, so I've marked it as 'with BCBs'. From The Fifth Elephant, where BCBs means Burnt Crunchy Bits, ha ha ha!

Then I cut the butternut, harvesting the seeds, cooked it, put it in bags in the freezer. And then I processed the bag of oranges, as well. They were seedless ones, so I just squeezed the juice into 300ml bottles and put them in the freezer.

I considered making the chicken today, after all ... but in the end, I just made spaghetti with mince. Sautéed the mince, then broke the spaghetti, criss-crossed them on top of the mince, added a tub of frozen tomato puree, spices, a packet of frozen mushrooms, frozen brussels sprouts, water ... four minutes on high ... I hope it turns out okay.

We had rain on and off today, highest temperature only 23 Celsius. My laundry isn't quite dry, yet. I went to sit outside with my mippies, but Lady Sybill came running happily, when she heard me, so I had a cuddle session with her! Her tummy should be full, she gobbled as much of the chicken hearts and liver as she could, earlier today and I gave them another batch this evening!

My mippies have also had several cuddle sessions. Each one!

The Spaghetti is quite delicious! A bit overcooked - I'll remember that next time. Try two minutes instead of four. Or maybe three.

I quick-released the steam, then took a shower instead of waiting for the last steam to get out, so I can open the pot. I've added grated cheese to the bowl - all in all, I'm enjoying dinner!

I've been watching The Hobbit most of today. I only have the first and the third part, I'll have to see if I can get part 2 somewhere.

Internet has deserted me again ... sigh. I'll leave it open, hopefully I can publish sometime ... no load shedding during the night, next turn only tomorrow afternoon, four to six.

SoD Day 43 LS 3 2 3 Friday

Not much of a day ...

Well, it's noon. Time to focus on home!

The weather has cooled down quite a bit this week, I shouldn't have a problem with flies again, when I fry the chicken hearts. I'd like that finished today ... or maybe I'll finally spend some time on my tomato plants? They could do with watering, too ... I'll just see what I feel like doing, when I get home ...

Load shedding tonight from six to eight again ... and then from midnight till half three tomorrow morning. Six hours later, another two hours load shedding from eight to ten.

This reduction in load shedding is worrying me. It's not realistic - I'm convinced of that! It's a staged show. And it's working!

It puts me in mind of the scenario in 'Going Postal', where the conned stake holders are being conned to throw even more money into a bad deal ... and they do, because they cling to the HOPE that it will end well. Giving up that hope would mean the end ... The ANC is very much like Reacher Gilt.

Anyway, I doubt I'll bother to turn on the PC at home, so I better publish now, before I leave ...

SoD day 42 Dark 6 hrs LS 3 2 3 Thursday

Back at home, I got busy with chores. Feed the ferals, clean the litter boxes, spray the mushrooms, unpack the delivery ... and I found an additional box in my delivery! A box of Royal Canin Ageing 12+. I packed it away, for now - this morning I sent mail to report it.

Packed my lunch ... and that was as much as I had energy to do. Power went off, so I ran a bath while I ate my burritos - three of them. I took out two club steaks and one bag of potatoes.

Flopped around in an ankle deep bath, sprayed myself with Eau-de-buzz-off ... turned on the PC, audiobook, bed ...

Around four this morning I woke up ... I don't know what woke me up, because the power was on when I woke and then went off ... I tried to turn off the PC, but as soon as I turned on the monitor, it crashed. UPS is finished, for sure! I had internet, so I reported it, then went back to doze ...

Got up around six, coffee (I had brewed a fresh pot yesterday morning, so I still have enough in the flask), then sit down to check if there's any update on the power outage ... nothing. Whole of Pretoria North is off, as well ...

With no mayor in charge, and the ANC & their pets doing everything in their power to disrupt service as much as possible ... councillors aren't even able to get feedback on the outage! It's just past ten and nobody has even investigated the cause! Apparently teams are busy with another area outage ... 

Right. I went grocery shopping. Again spent way over budget! Well, not really ... I'm writing the hoarding off against the annuity income. Non-budget items. Today, sunflower oil was almost 30% off, and they had butter on special, again, as well. And I got a half bag of oranges - also on special. They - again - didn't have cartons of cigarettes, so I cleaned out every single loose packet they had, which came to just over 4 cartons. I also got chicken hearts and chicken livers for the ferals. They love it! Whereas mine tend to turn their noses up at it, ha ha ha! Spoiled brats!

At the butchery, I got cheese and 3kg mince. Why am I buying more meat, when my freezer is chock-a-block full, I imagine you ask? Mince is so versatile! Along with the chicken, I've been thinking of making hamburger patties, German style, and maybe meat loaf - my own concoction, this time. Not the bland, ketchup covered gunk that's traditional in America.

Feedback from Zuki: they'll come and collect the extra box of food. I'll bring it to work tomorrow.

Ah! Power is back on, at home. Just after ten - so that's just over 6 hours without power. Sigh ...

On the whole, with my current stockpile, I should easily manage to stay within budget for the rest of the year. And I must confess, this spending spree has been fun! Even though I did not really splash out on any luxuries - only items I'd really been considering for a long time. 

The Whiskas I ordered yesterday just arrived. Nice!

It's perfect for luring the tuxedo kitten. I was able to touch her a few times last night - but at every touch, she dashed away. And her mommy, although she comes running at me whenever she sees me ... do not touch! Ha Ha! Vimes showed up this morning, again. Lady Sybill still enjoys cuddle sessions with me, and she doesn't mind my hands stroking her back while she's eating. 

I've just made a list of what I plan to get done this weekend ... in the kitchen, that is. I've harvested another box of tomatoes, so I should make puree; there's the chicken hearts and livers to make for the ferals, the whole chicken I want to make for myself, the butternut I still need to process, and on top of that the mince meals I want to prepare. It sounds a lot more than the actual work involved.

Okay, here's a news article headline: Consistent energy availability will end load shedding. FFS, really? That revelation is costing us taxpayers another ten Million Rand? Sheez ...

There is definitely something fishy going on with Eskom. ANC appoints a new 'Minister of Electricity' and suddenly load shedding is reduced, even suspended; and this new minister is going around telling everyone how there's no corruption, no stealing, no problems ... just needs a good manager. Meanwhile, in other news, a family of fraudsters to appear in court for stealing millions from Eskom ...

Our government frequently brings to mind Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Galaxy, in Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. He was the best ever President of the Galaxy in that he fulfilled the TRUE function of a president: To attract attention - away from the TRUE Ruler(s) of the Galaxy.

Sheez, now Zuki is saying that 5th box is part of my order! I just made sure that I hadn't accidentally added it ... nope ... no clue where she gets that from! Sent her a screenshot of the order she's referring to ... 

Load shedding tonight again from six to eight, and then from 02:00 - 04:30 during the night. No PC audiobook tonight ... sigh ... and our new Minister of Electricity is strutting around praising everything, announcing mindlessly how 'everything is working fine! Don't know what you're all whining about with this load shedding nonsense' ... I just don't know anymore ... 

Well ... I can just do what little I can to prepare, and stick my head in the sand ... and keep my mind in my own little world.

It has cats. Cats are nice!

SoD Day 41 LS 0 2 3 Back-to-work Wednesday

I saw Vimes! Finally! As I sat in the lounge for a last smoke break, he came hopping along - after a hoppy! I'm very relieved! This morning he was with his sister, coming to munch breakfast!

I woke up relatively early, but took it easy. On the way, I hit traffic - took me almost an hour to get to work.

At work I find the box of Royal Canin Wet Food outside the door to my office. Good, they delivered! I'm on my last pouch. And I need to order more Whiskas today ...

Done. That wasn't on the plan for this month - again. Only once.

Since I'm tossing money about, might as well place my order with Takealot. Next week is a normal, 5 day week, and then another long weekend: Easter.

Aaand the first item on my list is already out of stock: vacuum sealer bags! The 28cm rolls are out of stock, only the 20cm rolls now available. I'll take a pack. See how it works.

Okay, I'm going shop-a-holic! Buying a gas bottle, so I have a spare. Garden scissors - I've now managed to loose the second pair somewhere in the garden! It's the only garden item I seem to loose ... Buying a Watt meter, and a 5kg kitchen scale (I only have a 500gr one). Mechanical, not digital. Bulk pack of record cards - for my seed organising, and a Teflon baking sheet. I got one years ago from The Bread Republic. When I wanted to buy another one ... seems they've closed down. And yes, 90% of what I'm buying is on special. The items not on special are cheaper than their counterparts which are on special. Plus, I've read plenty reviews on each item ... 

Funny thing, when I placed the order, they stated delivery Monday, 3rd April. The confirmation e-mail states delivery Friday, 31st March. I wonder which it will be ...

Not a lot of items, but no really cheap items. Well ... okay, a few little treats. All I still need to get - over budget - is new glasses and bras. My freezer is finally full - it's taken months of buying a little extra. Friday's haul just finished the job. From now on, I will only need to replenish what I use. Sort of. I still have to process most of the food - it's currently still in raw form. One step at a time.

That's also where the scale comes in. With the pressure cooker, I can't check on the meat while it's cooking - so I really need an exact weight to calculate the correct cooking time. Undercooking isn't a problem, as I reheat the food - but overcooking can't be fixed. So, I'm going to wait for the scale before I cook the other half of the chuck roast.

I think this weekend I'll try my luck with the chicken. I must also stop throwing the bones away - I can make broth or stock with them. I should put a bag for each type into the freezer: beef, lamb, chicken - and one for vegetable off-cuts.

Load shedding from six to eight tonight - so, I can either cook or shower. Not both. That's where the pre-made burritos come in ... only ... I planned two a day, but I think I'll be eating all four tonight. So I must also take out a steak or two for tomorrow night.

SoD Day 40 LS 0 Public Holiday Tuesday

I had a weird dream about toads guarding the entrance to my garden ...clearly inspired by counting four toads now living on my veranda!

This morning, when I went to feed the ferals, I found both bowls empty! Good! Lady Sybill is hanging around for cuddles, we've had quite a few sessions already. The tuxedo mommy is here, her brown tabby baby is here. I saw Sybills mum earlier. Ditto tuxedo kitten. Only Vimes is still missing.

Lady Sybill seems to be making her move to move into the house! She's doing exactly what Ziva did: inspecting every corner, every room ... Mini won't have it, though. She attacks the poor kitten! I have to hold her back. Right now, I think she's somewhere in my bedroom, but I can't find her. I'm just going by the attitudes of Janey and Mini.

I've been busy all morning. I've grated cheese, picked all the bell peppers off the plant - it's covered in flowers again! Cut them all up, collected the seeds, and put spread them on a flat surface in the freezer. I've sealed all the potato bags, processed the last avocados, and now the mince is cooking for the burrito's. Bread is almost done - I opted to bake it in the machine.

Looks funny! Tiny turd of a loaf of bread ... no clue what went wrong. Not a brick, though. It's edible. It'll do. 

Round loaf came out of my rectangular pan. Weird, eh? I forgot to add salt!

Today promised to be cooler than yesterday ... another broken promise! It's almost one and over 30 Celsius in the shade. And I'm running out of energy. I still have a lot to do, I'm afraid ...

Right! I've packed six more burritos, four in the fridge, two in the freezer. Sealed and labelled the avo and the peppers. Vacuum sealed the left-over salsa sauce - in the original bag, and packed the left over mince in the freezer. Now to wash dishes ... it's almost two ... energy levels are dropping ...

Another 'lovely' update on load shedding: Stage 2 only starts tomorrow morning 05:00, not tonight at 16:00!

Right. Quarter past three, kitchen is clean! Phew! I'm glad I bullied myself into doing that!

I watched a video by an Asian lady, who called it 'be kind to your future self'. I like that! 'Future me will be grateful for all the hard work Present Me did this weekend!'

Ah! Lady Sybill spent the day in the Wendy - wasn't hiding inside, after all. Smeagol just showed up and I fed them. So far, just the two of them. But it's only four.

Well, I've packed my lunch, just need to add the fruit juice tomorrow morning - coming out of the fridge.

I'm actually quite proud of myself! This is the first time that I've actually processed everything I bought on a major food haul! Every last crumb! 

Sigh, I've been a bad mommy! I haven't cleaned the litter boxes almost a week! Bad, bad mommy! I've just spent the past hour cleaning them! As soon as I was done, Ziva came in and gratefully used one!

Still haven't seen Vimes since the brush cutting ... last I saw of him, was when he was trying to catch flowers, jumping up the stalks to catch the blossom at the top, in my center bed! Let's hope that's not the last time! I've seen his mum again, today, and, of course, his sister, pretty much all day long.

I poured some garlic oil into a sachet of Whiskas and put it in the fridge. When they came in, I stirred it up a bit more and served it. Ziva gave it a look, then looked at me ... ditto Mini. So I added some of Ziva's Renal wet food and mixed it. They both ate that! Little gourmet's!

I've showered, so time for cuddles and rest ...

SoD Day 39 LS 1 0 Leave Monday

I slept well and woke up early. Power didn't go off at five - I thought it might stay on. The guys who have to drive up and down to turn power off and on, on top of repairing breakdowns caused by this constant on and off switching ... well, when it's just one hour, why risk a breakdown?

Messages coming through about spike chains laid across roads, tires and wood being offloaded in some areas ... burning tires on main roads, most incidents happened late last night. This morning, so far, all clear.

Just read one report saying how the EFF dragged a tree across a road, to block the road - minutes later a taxi with EFF supporters ran into the tree! You can't make this up ...

Right! Not yet nine and the grapevine is cut down for the winter!

I spent the last hour looking through news - seems mostly quiet. Over 24 000 tires have been confiscated ... less than 100 people arrested, but that's about all.

Aaand load shedding suspended from 11:00 today until 16:00 tomorrow evening, when Stage 2 will be implemented. So, no load shedding during the night, and I can keep the PC on overnight! Nice! Buuut ... it means Wednesday we're off from six to eight in the evening. Shite! Worst timing for me!

Right! I've cleared the bed around the grapevine - thoroughly! Then added fertilizer, watered, placed cardboard everywhere, watered again ... that's one bed ready for winter.

It's so hot today, after doing that one bed, I have no energy left for anything! None! I've napped for about two hours, then just lay on the bed another hour ... I don't even feel up to cooking! I'll leave it for tomorrow morning ... when I also have to bake.

Well, my tenant has been busy, though. He's cleaned the center bed, the melon bed, the tomato bed and the back of the marigold bed! Sounds like he's worked hard - when you consider cleaning just the grapevine bed took me three hours, doesn't it? Well, he has and he hasn't. He's pulled off weeds more than pulled them out. The deep roots are left behind, and the bed will be overgrown in a relatively short time. No matter, it buys me time.

The ferals have been scarce. When I took out their evening dinner, I found both bowls untouched! Smeagol showed up. His tuxedo baby showed up - then sat calling forlornly for her family! I spotted her sister just outside my garden. A while later, their mommy came strolling through the gate ... I hope the other mommy comes soon, and brings my babies, too!

I'm already inside, though. Showered. Without any dinner ... sigh ... 

SoD Day 38 LS 1 0 Sunday

The two hours load shedding were a nightmare. As the power went of, almost immediately I was soaking wet. I struggled to get the air con going - first, I had to evict Mewthos from his place on the night stand, then I had seemingly endless issues getting it to turn on! Fiddling with that tiny plug, then it would go on and right off again. At first I thought it was because Mini had emptied the water again - nope, that didn't solve it. Eventually I figured out that a) one of the USB plugs on my power bank doesn't work and therefore I can't have my WiFi AND my air con on at the same time. All that took an hour to figure out!

I think it may be worth investing in another power bank, one that works properly! Remember, the torch on this one has NEVER worked! Hmmm, I just tested both ports, and they both work. So that means that either the cable can't handle the load or the power bank can't run the air con (which I suspect takes quite a bit of power) and the WiFi router at the same time.

So, a late and lazy start to my day. I only got up near seven, made myself a fresh pot of coffee, now I'm working up the get-go to process the avocados. I COULD just freeze them whole, but I want the pits to grow trees. That means, I need to peel and cut them, pack that into freezer bags, then see if I can seal them like that, or whether I need to freeze them before I seal the bag.

And then I need to wash all the pits, make bottles, and set everything up, so they can grow! HUGE job!

Half eleven and I've packed almost 3kg of the avocadoes in freezer bags, the rest is not quite ripe, yet. Now for the pits. I've put them in a bowl of water, for now.

Right, avo pits are each set up to grow. I took a short cut. Instead of using three toothpicks per pit, I just turned the bottle top upside down and placed them in that. Where the pit was too small, and fell through, I cut a hole in the cap.

I've set up the mushroom kit, made garlic oil and planted some 6 cloves that were sprouting. I placed the mushroom kit in the spare bedroom, under the sleeper couch. It's dark enough, and the room doesn't get much sun, so it shouldn't get too hot. Nor too cold.

It almost one. It's too hot outside, even in the shade. 33 Celsius in the shade! I sat in the sun for just a few minutes, when I was filling the avo bottles with water - too hot! I'm wondering what I should do now ... 

Well, I've decided on my first freezer meal: Burrito's! I've actually been wanting to make them for a while, only, I didn't have avocados! Now I do! The only ingredient I don't have is lettuce. I'll have to do without.

Aaand power dropped. Just for a second - but enough to crash my PC. Sigh ... I need a new UPS. Not now, though.

I'm thinking of cooking the potatoes, then freezing them ... they'll have to cool down completely, before I can freeze them.

Going on three and it's over 34 Celsius in the shade! Potatoes are in the pressure cooker. About half, all that would fit. I'm thinking of making myself a spaghetti and tuna dinner ... but I'm too lazy, ha ha! I think I'll just have some potatoes with butter.

Tomorrow morning I'll start in the garden, when it's still cool.

Okay, I've washed the dishes - kitchen is clean, again. Flower fountain is working, again. 

Aaaand another update on load shedding. No load shedding until 05:00 tomorrow morning, thereafter Stage 1. So our power will only be off from 05:00 - 06:30.

Right. I've packed the potatoes into bags. I tried vacuum sealing them, but there's too much liquid in the potatoes, so I've put the bags into the freezer. Then I cut the rest of the potatoes, they're in the pressure cooker now. I've had a bowl of potatoes with butter. Working with food all day, I'm not really hungry. You know how that goes, right?

Now the internet is playing up again. 

Well, the second batch of potatoes are packed and in the freezer. I tried vacuum sealing the first batch - still too liquid. It'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm thinking of doing the butternut as well.

But first: I will spend the morning in the garden. Until it gets too hot! For tonight, it's quarter past six ... time to sit with mippies on the veranda, then shower, then bed.

I was just feeding the ferals, when my tenant came up to me to ask for a favour! I said 'No!' without even asking what. A few minutes later, I was sitting on the veranda and he came past ... slowed ... stopped ... came back to talk to me. I'm not happy with his response. Yet. I'll give him time and will see ... he's on his fourth chance now. 

And this is why I have to refill my desk air con every single evening! Two fountains, more choices outside, and Mini insists on drinking the water out of my air con! And yes, she opens the lid herself. I keep it closed.

I'm starting to get a headache ... I wonder whether it's weather related? Well, I hope it passes.

And now it's almost eight. I've showered and I'm ready to call it a day ...

SoD Day 37 LS 2 1 Saturday

I ended up watching the Return of the King to the end ... Four and a half hours, ha ha! It really was lovely not to have a 'lights out' time, for once! And it's not a problem, I don't HAVE TO get up early. Funny thing, though, when I don't have to - I get up early easily!

I forgot to mention that my landlord had put the sprinklers on yesterday, so my whole garden is lovely and soft today.

First things first, though, starting with the laundry.

Laundry is up - on the portions of MY line, I'm apparently allowed to use - I'm a tad upset with my tenant at the moment. He's got his ex wife staying with him - yes, ex wife, not his current wife - and it's not good. She's not trouble, not by a long shot - but she's your typical self-centered, inconsiderate African (not colour related, by the way). And he is turning back into the same person I was ready to throw out before he'd even moved in - selfish, self-centered, inconsiderate. Happy to take, without even so much as giving thought, let alone a hand. I need to have - yet another - talk with him.

Anyway. I've just cleaned and re-organised my chest freezer! Took less than an hour - but, naturally, I rushed. I discovered that defrosting the chest freezer is really, really quick and easy! I just need to defrost the walls, after all - and I can scrape the ice off with a plastic spatula. Easy Peasy! Then scoop it into a bucket - again, I can use the spatula ... a breeze!

Landlord has the sprinklers going again out front, so ... no gardening today. It's okay, I'm quite happy to do the kitchen stuff today - I most likely would have done that today, anyway. I want to re-pack and freeze the lamb, of course!

I've put a layer of water bottles at the bottom, and I want to add another on top. I've used hard paper bags to group things. And, of course, the trouble, once you put things in containers is: you have less space! Why? Because each container has some gaps, and those add up.

Phew! I've packed, labelled and inventoried the half lamb! Quite a job! I've got a lovely book, called 'Complete SA Meat Cook Book', which also explains all the different cuts, with photos. That helped me big time to identify the different pieces.

My chest freezer is quite full now! There's still some room, but not a lot. I can still add a layer of bottles with water in, to keep everything frozen during load shedding, and power outages.

Well, it's past two. Took quite some time. Oh, and the landlord's workers were here - they were busy with brush cutters outside, and offered to come inside. They cut that whole section behind the grapevine down - even the weeds that had grown up to tree level! And the brush by the rose bushes ... just everything my tenant has decided is not his job.

I did worry about the ferals ... but ... well, they're big enough now. And there really wasn't much I could do, anyway.

I also got myself a different type of nozzle for watering, this one is supposed to produce a gentle shower - something I've not been able to achieve with the standard one, even when set to fine spray. It works wonderfully! I can water all the pots on the veranda without fear of splashing seeds out! Another step forward!

Twenty past three, and the cheese is sliced, packed and in the freezer, as well. I still need to do the avocados ...

Aaaand load shedding Stage 1 until further notice. No Stage 2. Why am I being so sarcastic about it? Well, when you control the criminal cartels that CAUSE load shedding, it's easy to get them to ease up a bit, so you can put on a big show of 'Look! Minister of Electricity is doing a fantastic job!'. Same as they did in 2010 ... and It's going to backfire sooner or later, and THEN the shit will really hit the fan ... and WE pay the price!

Well, still load shedding from eight to ten tonight ...

Well, I'm quite tired - I've worked surprisingly hard for a Saturday! I feel tired, but not drained - I quite enjoyed myself! And looking at my lovely, almost full chest freezer? Wonderful! And a full freezer uses less electricity! I'm planning on getting myself a Kilowatt meter. I WOULD like to know which appliance uses the most electricity - and how much! I already know that the pressure cooker and the induction plate are the cheapest appliances for cooking.

Oh, you're wondering where I plan to put any freezer meals? Easy: the freezer part of my fridge is still mostly empty! Oh, and the chest freezer was not quite three quarter full this morning - the difference is the bags I've used to organise everything; no, not the half lamb. That would have only made it three quarter full, not totally full.

Yeah, I'm happy! Very happy! I LOVE a hoard of food! And the choice to make whatever I feel like, when I feel like it!

With regards to the freezer meals, I'm thinking I would prefer to freeze not whole meals, but the individual ingredients, separately. Like, potatoes, cooked veggies, rice, meat, etc. So I can take out and make different meals. I don't quite know, yet. I'm still thinking ...

Anyway, it's half past seven ... almost time for load shedding ...

SoD Day 36 LS 3 2 Friday

Not the best of nights ... woke up with a headache. I really need a long weekend! I just hope I'm not coming down with something.

Last night, I didn't do much. Just drained of all energy ... packed my delivery away, fed the ferals, showered, cooked dinner ... toilet is STILL not working, tenant says he'll get the right material and fix it today ... 

I think I may have to take the tuxedo to the vet to be sedated to take that tape off her leg! I'm going to make an effort this afternoon.

Just before I went inside, I watched the whole colony play around the center ponytail! Vimes was on a mission to catch flowers - he kept jumping to cat the top of the flower stalks! The kittens all ran up and down the ponytail, all three parents sat somewhere in the bed, watching over the kittens - even Sybill & Vimes mommy! It was lovely!

Unfortunately, my lot fear being outside with Smeagol and his lot - so while Smeagol's lot are out front, mine hide out back. I'll have to keep an eye on the dynamics this weekend.

Aaand load shedding downgraded to Stage 2 from noon today! Until further notice ... today and tomorrow from noon till half three and tomorrow and Sunday also from eight to ten in the evening.

I'm wondering whether I should maybe kick my rear to driving to Ninapark Spar after work today? They're having incredible savings for their 25th Birthday - today only! They're offering lamb at less than half the standard price per kg! Maybe a little 'shopping therapy' will cheer me up? And, as it's a long weekend, I have time to re-pack and store. And there are a couple of items I could use - if I could get them on special, or even super special: bargain!

I think I will drive to Ninapark! Just the thought of filling a trolley with yummies is already perking me up!

No load shedding at home until noon tomorrow, so I should be able to get online, and list all my treasures! Ha Ha!

Ooooh, did I just splash out! I spent more money than I have in a long time - on myself, that is. A tad more than a quarter of what all the cats cost me! Yet none of it really frivolous! Only one luxury treat: a sushi platter! A few packets of seeds - I couldn't resist. The rest, however, will all come in very, very welcome! The lamb was only on special, if you buy half a lamb. Which I did. I bought about 4kg avocados! Just last night I came across a tip how to freeze them! And I got something like 3kg cheese, and a very, very good price! I'm not sure how good it is, but I'll freeze it in manageable chunks. Cheese doesn't freeze well - once you defrost, it crumbles. But that's perfect for cheese dishes.

On the whole, I am very, very happy with my haul! I kept in mind, how much I can process and how much time it'll take - so I didn't get more than I'll be able to cope with.

Best of all, it was only an hour out of my way! I was home by four! And - after packing away only what needed refrigeration or freezing - I immediately dug into my sushi! Yum! Yum! Yum!

Aaand load shedding will be dropping another Stage tomorrow! Stage 1 from 05:00 - 16:00, Stage 2 from four till five the next morning, on Sunday no load shedding during the day, then Stage 1 for 24 hours, till Monday evening, Stage 2 overnight, no load shedding again on Tuesday, then again Stage 2.

What does that mean for me? Only 1 x 2 hours load shedding this weekend: tomorrow evening from eight to ten. Nothing on Sunday. Monday 04:00 - 06:30, Tuesday 02:00 - 04:30. Tolerable ...

I'm taking it easy this afternoon. I'm just pottering about, cuddling mippies, watching LotR, going to shower, then settle for the night ...

SoD Day 35 LS 3 Thursday

I still couldn't catch the tuxedo kitten. But my toilet is fixed. Supposedly. We'll see tonight.

Oh, and the power was on, at home! Phew!

Corral trees arrived! I am so excited! Sadly, as I showed the guy around the garden, I realised just how neglected everything is - it looks absolutely awful! Well, I haven't been able to garden for a few weeks - with all my cat troubles. I'm really looking forward to this long weekend!

He took a cutting off my Marigold and the grapevine - which badly needs pruning! He said he might come back over the weekend to ... I'm not sure. I offered him to take cuttings of anything he likes.

Aaaand mippies have pushed my desk air con off the nightstand! All the water onto my mattress and pillow ... lovely!

I, again, enjoyed a strong internet signal, so I was able to watch a few YouTube videos. I'm still busy looking into a different cooking life style. I've already changed by leaps and bounds - years ago, I was rather wasteful. Truth is, one really NEEDS to plan! And I don't. And that's where I run into trouble.

Well, I always meant to get better organised ... just never got around to it. Now I no longer have a choice. And yet, rather than feeling like a 'must', it feels more like 'here's my chance'!

Okay, so last night I looked into Beginner Tips for Freezer meals. I like this idea. I've been thinking of going that route for a long, long time. Years, really! Only ... well ... I just never really put it into action. What I've always done, was to buy bulk when it's cheap, then pack and freeze the raw ingredients. Like cuts of meat, vegetables - blanched, etc.

So, one thing, of course, is deciding freezing containers. Again and again they mentioned that 'air is the enemy', so vacuum packing is the best option for me. That's what I got that vacuum sealer for - only, the bags are just soooo expensive! So, I looked into alternatives. I've been thinking of using rolls instead of bags - gives me a bit more flexibility, size-wise.

When I first considered buying a vacuum sealer, I asked At for advice. And I specifically asked about the bags - he said how they're really cheap and no problem, just get them from the same place we get our work rolls from. What he didn't mention is, that they must be textured, they can't be smooth. It's that texture that allows the vacuum sealer to suck out the air. Smooth bags work in a cabinet sealer (don't ask me, I just parrot-repeat what I heard on this one).

I looked into alternatives last night, and what I need to know - that's where I learned about the texturing. I'm now looking at prices, and I'm wondering whether I should take a chance and buy no-name / non-brand rolls, as they are substantially cheaper! I've read the reviews and they seem to work on different brands sealers. They're currently on special, and less than half the price (per meter) of the rolls matching the brand of my vacuum sealer! And the rolls even now are almost half the price I paid for the bags I bought (on special) over two years ago!

I'll sleep on it. Anyway, delivery is 2-5 working days and I don't want delivery to fall on Monday.

This morning I woke up early, but turned over. When I woke up again around half seven ... and the power was off ... I thought it was another power outage! Turns out, it was just load shedding - I hadn't memorised the day's schedule. Bit of an issue, as I needed a fresh pot of coffee.

My delivery has arrived! I'd love to check out the mushroom kit right away! Yeah, gonna wait until I'm home ... 

Oh, and I saw a cool tip on freezing: I can freeze in a container, then take it out of the container and put it in a bag! Why haven't I thought of that myself? So simple!

I'm too lazy today to go and get groceries. I don't really need anything ... 

Long weekend this weekend, again two weeks later, and again two weeks after that! 27th April is a public holiday in South Africa, so I'm taking that Friday off, again. Which is followed by Worker's day, so that'll be a lovely 5 day weekend!

I woke up during load shedding again ... turned on my desk air con - LOVELY! Only, I forgot to unplug it, after I turned it off ... now my power bank is powerless! And I put the air con on the floor!

I think this long weekend I will take a day 'off' to just slob around, munching chocolate and watching The Lord of the Rings. Depending on load shedding, maybe two of the movies in a row ... try to schedule my mid-day nap during load shedding. I really need some time out! These past couple of days I've been feeling something coming on ... fever? cold? Not sure what, but I've been taking one or two Airmune a day.

Hmm ... I think place an order with Takealot today, after all? Quite a few of my regular items are on special - and I can't tell for how long! That part really sucks! Seriously - WTF? You know what? Sod them! I don't really want to be spending money now ... 

I just fetched a bar of chocolate from my delivery. Just feel like a sugar boost.

Ah! That hit the spot! Could do with another ... ha ha ha!

Well, two things I want done this weekend: Trim the grapevine and sort out my chest freezer. It's - predictably - becoming difficult to find anything in there, now, since I don't have any containers / baskets, etc. I saw a video last night, where she just puts things into standard shopping bags - raw meat in one bag, veggies in another, freezer meals in another ... the problem I'm likely to have with that is, that the vacuum bags have such sharp edges. They'll just slice plastic bags the first time you try to move them. I'll figure something out, I'm sure!

And I want to put all the 'dodgy' foods either on top, our use them up this weekend. Then make sure my inventory is up to date.

I've gone and taken another chocolate from my stash, ha ha! It's already four, but yeah ... today is not a good day for me. Happens.

SoD Day 34 LS 4 3 Wednesday

The fruit juice was indeed still a tad coolish, when I got home! Nice! But yeah, none of the missing items had been added ... but at least no additional items are missing!

I went outside to feed the ferals, and sat down with a bowl of wet food, hoping to lure the tuxedo kitten close enough, so I can catch her. I eventually managed to get a couple of cuddles out of Lady Sybill, but Spitfire Vimes is true to his name ... and the tuxedo is just much, much too wary of me! I will need more time - and more bait.

I was quite busy, when my tenant came home - I asked for my gas cooker back ... I hate that I always, always have to ask to get it back! I also told him that the toilet is now leaking worse than before ... he came to check, and he'll fix it tonight - but then I can't flush for 24 hours. Sigh ...

Mewthos has a new wound! Inside his hip. It actually doesn't look fresh. I don't know ... I'll keep an eye on it. It doesn't seem to bother him, and there definitely is no lump, so ...

Internet was surprisingly strong last night, so I took the opportunity to watch some political interviews. I don't know why this sudden interest in politics ... probably because politics have forced themselves into my house, with the constant load shedding, increasing crime rate, sky-rocketing price increases ... I guess, it's woken me up to want to know what I can do.

I went to sleep quite late, yet - again - woke up very early! Lovely! Time for mippies, coffee, and a good think.

Ah, mail from Sir Fruit, apologising and asking whether she can add to next delivery with some complimentary juice - I told her 'no worries, was just bad timing, send with next delivery'.

Aaand Stage 4 is now scrapped ... until further notice. Not that it makes any difference to our schedule, but, yea ... let's see how long that lasts.

Aaand I made an impulse purchase! I bought three corral trees from one of the guys on our local group! He's delivering them after work today - I offered to pay petrol. All in all, it comes to just a tad more than half a carton of cigarettes, so it wasn't a major purchase. But I love corral trees! Those stunning red flowers! Okay, they're about the same size as my plum and apple trees ... the one's still in their bottles. Funny thing, he's using the same method: cut off plastic bottles! And since I'm paying cash, it doesn't affect my budget. 

Well, ten to five ... no clue whether our power is on or not ... Sigh ... Doesn't count as 'Dark', as it was self inflicted ... 

SoD Day 33 Dark 2 hrs + 2 3/4 hrs LS 4 Tuesday

The insurance payment came through last night! Phew! I can now pay off my credit card and put that back into the black! That is a huge relief! So huge, apparently, that I slept really well, for the first time in ages!

As a result, I woke up freakishly early this morning! Sometime around three! I got up, but went back to sleep, then woke up again about quarter to five! I brewed a fresh pot of coffee - load shedding starts at six - then sat down to think.

As I was sitting, mippies started gathering around me. Mew-Mew hogged the ottoman, leaving Ziva to find another spot - she's not comfortable on my lap, nor on one of the arms of the armchair ... she moved around, trying to get Mew-Mew to move is butt! Ha Ha! Mini lay at my feet, and then Janey came a bit closer ... but strolled off again.

I worry about the two babies, now. Clearly, their mother is warning them off me - even Lady Sybill is wary of me now! I don't see them every day, anymore. So far, when I see them, both their eyes look fine.

The tuxedo (black & white) girl still has that tape wrapped around her leg. I really must make a plan to catch her and remove it.

I've now ordered my fruit juice with a light heart!

Aaand power is off, again! At home! Huge area affected!

I've just done the sums, how much I need to get my credit card back in black ... Yikes! Just: Holy Moly! Yeah ... three vet bills and cat food for 11 cats will do that ... plus, I paid the one order with credit card ... only, I forgot to make a note of it on my budget. So that's still coming ... 

Why not wait until I get the statement? Because the banks charge over 10x as much interest on balance owed, than they give for credit balances! Interest rate is 20.5% on balance owed, and a measly 0.20% on credit! Despicable! But yeah ... that's where we are now.

Anyway, I've transferred money. My bank balance looks absolutely lovely, right now! Not for long, I'm afraid. The bulk of the money is going to be transferred into investments. I'll get a link to live updates on the value of those ... I'm looking forward to watching them grow!

Sigh ... I've sent mail to Sir Fruit to remind them to include the two promised replacements ... lady is at training today. Forwarded to the requested persons ... no response ... Pfffft! This is getting ridiculous! Ah, well ...

Aaand power came on some 2 hours later!  Good!

Aaand load shedding will go down to Stage 3 from 05:00 - 16:00 daily, starting tomorrow. Another political move, that I seriously doubt will be maintained.

Politically, this country is a powder keg! Circus antics everywhere. Where the ANC has lost ruling power, they're now buying all those tin-pot parties to betray their coalition. Which they all happily do - because their own pockets matter, public service doesn't. Unions are on strike - and it's less of a strike than a riot! Health Workers on strike were attacking paramedics AND their patient - a child! They are attacking and threatening PATIENTS in hospitals! Four people have already died ... now the Police is announcing they will go on strike. And on Monday, the EFF is planning another riot! Oh, and then there's our Ex President, Jacob Zuma, who just put in a land claim ... claiming the entire South Africa!

That's just the tip of the iceberg ... These days, seeing news headlines, I frequently wonder whether I got the date wrong? Is it 1st April? Or maybe I've been re-directed to a satire news site? Or maybe I'm on Candid Camera? It's just unbelievable!

Anyway.

Hmm ... seems my fruit juice order is going to be here in 15 minutes? It's just gone four ... that's blerry fast!

I'm considering selling seeds or seedlings, as a side hustle. It's the only 'hobby' I can see myself keeping up - since it does so much for me!

Another thought, of course, given my age, is: going into politics. Looking at the ANC geriatric government ... 

Fruit juice arrived! And: it feels cold! Yeehaa! Though I bet they didn't include the 'missing' links ... I'll see tonight, when I unpack. I'll laugh if there's yet another missing item!

Oh crap! Power off again at home! Something exploded, the same huge area is off, yet again!

I'll publish now ... and will update the heading tomorrow, when I know how many hours we're off this time ... Sigh ... load shedding from ten to midnight ...

Update: Power came on around ten past seven in the evening!

SoD Day 32 LS 4 Monday

I woke up to the alarm, but ... well, let's just say I got up three quarter hour later. Had my coffee, off to work.

Oh, nice! Load shedding only Stage 4, no Stage 5 in the evenings. Yeah, we still think Stage 4 deserves an 'only'.

I see cat food is out for delivery ... I should really order fruit juice again. With the long weekend coming up ... yet, looking at my budget ... I don't want to spend any more money this month!

I have a problem with the juice, though. Since they no longer deliver in a cold room, plus with all the load shedding and power outages ... I end up having to throw away bottles, now and again. Pineapple and Mango don't keep. Pineapple not at all, I can't order that. I just poured half a bottle of Mango down the sink ... it starts fermenting. If I was still drinking, I'd probably approve - but living sober ... yeah ... I can't drink it.

I think I'll leave ordering for tomorrow ... I've had quite a day ... 

I've contacted my investment broker, and he tells me I should get the funds very soon. Everything is on track, just checking whether I owe the taxman money.

I think I really need to put my mind into earning additional income. It's just so scary! And I don't have the energy of a young woman, anymore. ... 

Another option is some sort of work from home, or online income ... I've given that so much thought over the years, and really, I don't see anything that would really work. I don't have the kind of internet at home, to make online work realistic. And I really don't see myself marketing full time!

Well ... ten to five ... time to publish ...

SoD Day 31 Dark 1 hr + 3 1/2 hrs LS 3 1 4 Sunday

Absolutely awful night! I woke up soaking wet, with mosquitoes buzzing me insane! Checked the time, to see how long until power comes back - it was just twenty past midnight! Load shedding had only just started ... I tried going back to sleep, not a chance! I tried hiding under the duvet from the mosquitoes - it's much, much too hot to endure that! And the blood suckers come buzzing right by my exposed head, taking chances, settling on my face!

Eventually I got up, went to the lounge, got my desk air conditioner and my buzz bat. I set up the air con on the night stand next to my bed, pulled that right next to me, and settled down right next to it! LOVELY! I tried swatting at some mosquitoes, but the air blowing out of the air con kept them nicely away from me!

Only ... now, Mini decided that, since I'm awake, she can demand cuddles! Sigh ... yeah, she's still a bit 'difficult', but calming down nicely. Can't refuse her, she'll feel rejected.

Eventually I went to sleep, though! Only shortly before two, though - so I was awake, when the power came on again, and could turn the air con off. The power bank doesn't last forever ... 

And another problem: Mini likes to lift the lid, and help herself to the water in it! Ha Ha!

I slept well enough the rest of the night - and woke up when the alarm went off. Again: No power! Why? Sigh ... get up, connect the WiFi, wait for signal ... seems the power went off just before five ... I went to the bathroom, while there, the power came on! Just over an hour without power, this time! Phew!

Brewed myself a pot of coffee, fed the ferals, sat down ... I tried to get internet on the PC, so I could write ... not a chance! Eventually, I gave up! Might as well wait till after load shedding ...

Tenant showed up to fix my toilet. Finally! I haven't been able to keep the cistern filling for a week and a half, now! Just opening the tap whenever I'm sitting ... 

I decided to build my seed store. I started out, planning an elaborate, strong structure ... and ended up just stacking boxes, with only a single layer of sturdier cardboard between. Then I started sorting the seeds in the tray on my desk, making an index card for each one. I'm going to need more index cards - lots more!

I'm also going to need extra boxes for some letters - my P's are already full, with all the varieties of Pepper, Bell, that I've been harvesting!

I went outside, and noticed all the ferals gathering ... food bowls are empty! Again! Sheez, this is going to become expensive! Then I noticed the black and white baby seems to have something wrapped around her leg! I tried to lure her close with some chicken hearts, but Mewthos decided this smells interesting - her mommy did not approve, and hissed at Mewthos, and they all ran away ...

I should start baking bread ... not sure why I'm delaying so badly, I'm just going to bake a loaf in the machine, so I just have to drop everything into the pan! It's about choice ... I was busy with my seeds, now I have to change and do a 'must', while I have power. I also thought I'd make a plan to wash towels, but frankly, I'm not in the mood ... I have to process all the tomatoes today! Sigh ...

Two o'clock and I finished the tomatoes! Threw a lot of them away, I'm afraid. Almost the entire bottom layer.

Aaand another change in the load shedding schedule! At half past two, it's announced that from four, we'll be at Stage 4, not Stage 3. Until Monday at four, when we go to Stage 5. At five on Tuesday, back to Stage 4 ... which pattern will continue ... you guessed it: Until further notice!

There goes my Sunday afternoon! At Stage 4, we're off from four to six!  It's just past three, so I have to rush filling the tomato paste into bottles ... it's still a tad hot, though. Shite! This really feckin' sucks! I'll be washing dishes late tonight!

Right, washed everything except the bread pan. And the pressure cooker - but I only made some potatoes in that. I rush-filled the paste into bottles - some of it ended up in the sink ... 

Well, ten to four ... better publish. At Stage 4, I can't be sure to have internet ... 

Update: Power never came on after load shedding. Well, it came on for less than a minute ... I took a bath is ankle deep water, then went to bed. Power came one around half past nine, I'm told - thanks to my mini air con, I managed to get to sleep, and I caught the one mosquito that was feasting on me. I woke around three and found the power was on ...

SoD Day 30 LS 4 3 Saturday

I got home and let mippies out! Yipee! They were happy! Next, I tried getting the babies out - which was a bit more difficult. Eventually, I lured Vimes out with some wet food and snatched him - carried him out. Lady Sybill was a little easier.

Then I went and sat with my Marigold! They had grown too tall and fallen over into the driveway, I'm about to start driving over them, when I come and go. I harvested seeds, trimmed, cut - all patiently, one by one. I felt like some slow, thorough garden work - no big showy results, just pottering along, slowly.

I harvested more tomatoes - I have a full box of them, now! It's going to take a good, long time, cleaning them to make puree. I use the words puree and paste, because I really don't bother with the nuances. What I'm making is actually more puree - I just bake them with some herbs, then blend them. Paste would involve cooking them down to a thicker consistency. On the one hand, I'd like to try that - but on the other hand, I can just see the pot permanently stained ...

When the power came on, I turned on the sprinkler to cover the tomatoes and the Marigold. They badly need watering! I moved on to working around the Rosemary bush - which is looking a bit dry, not very good. Actually, my focus is on filling the bags I've placed in front of the veranda with trees from the bottles. Freeing the bottles, so I can plant more trees - like the Kiwi growing on the table, at the moment.

This morning, I am taking it very, very easy! No load shedding during the day - only 16:00 - 18:30 this afternoon. I ignored my alarm and turned over. Woke up again about half past seven! Got up, let mippies out, brewed myself a fresh pot of coffee. It's now nine, and all I've done is: fed the ferals, put the laundry in the machine. I've put my smartphone on charge ... I'm surprised to have quite a strong internet signal this morning! Maybe I'll be able to upload some photos today!

Well, the only two 'musts' on todays list are the laundry and the dishes. Tomorrow, load shedding - although only Stage 1 - from 08:00 - 10:30, after that I'll bake bread. That's all the 'musts' on my list.

I've watered the Vinca bed and the Rosamary again, to get the soil nice and soft. I also watered the Marigold bed, now I'm watering my plum tree and Thyme ... the rose beds are totally overgrown, I'm afraid.

Almost eleven, dishes washed and laundry on the line. Internet is down to two bars ... not enough to do anything ... 

Well, almost two, and I've done all the little jobs that don't make it onto the 'must' list. Plus a little extra. Babies' room is clean, I've cooked myself breakfast (fried blocks of bread, soaked in egg, covered with cheese), cat food store boxes refilled, litter boxes are cleaned, flower fountain is working again, I've cleaned my water filter ... still need to clean mippies' other water fountain ...

Oh ... and in the news for the last two weeks, the saga of the Tshwane Mayor. First, our elected mayor resigned - taking responsibility for the disgraceful financial audit report (though he, of course, wasn't personally responsible - just trusted the wrong people). Then, we were set to welcome his successor ... who was then betrayed by a handful of coalition members, who decided to side with the ANC. So, some wanna-be of one of the teeny tiny parties became mayor. It then emerged that, as he is declared insolvent, he's not eligible to hold any public office. He then produced a certificate proving that he is not insolvent, after all. Which, in the next twist, turns out to have been a fake certificate. Having been found out, he's now resigned ...

Seriously, this is getting beyond ridiculous! You expect plot twists like that in soap operas ... not in vital public service offices!

Why is this going on? And not just in Tshwane, but throughout the country!? Well, it's the ANC playing games, so they can keep their grubby paws in the tax coffers, stuffing their couches ... why couches? They're pockets are already overflowing!

Well, I still haven't cleaned mippies water fountain, I'll do that tomorrow. I have, however, loaded the Two Towers on my phone. Finally! I took a nap, and then went outside. I cleared a patch from the Rosemary bush onward, cleaned the tree bags of their dead trees and weeds, filled them up, and planted two apple trees and two lemon trees. I've also taken three of the Kiwi sprouts and planted them in bottles ... though I think they can't stay in there for long. They seem to have a strong taproot, which will need more depth soon.

I've showered, and now it's just past nine ... time to sleep ...

SoD Day 29 LS 4 Friday

Mewthos is purring again! Still being hissed and growled at, but he's purrfectly happy with his Whiskas, again! I think I'll cancel the Royal Canin wet food ... they lap up the sauce, leave the food ... it's just too expensive! They get their nutrients and vitamins from the kibbles ...

Mew-Mew's shaved butt

This week's routine has been, I go out with the food for the ferals and my weather record. Feed the ferals, check their water, write the min-max temperatures of the day, re-set, then back inside. While I'm out, I also check on my plants, water if needed ... my Kiwi have started growing! But only in the one pot. I wondered why the second pot looks like someone's been scratching in it ... found one of the toads had made it his home!

So much for: "You reap, what you sow!" I sowed Kiwi ...

They're loving life on my veranda! And I have to pick up their poop! Like ... cleaning 4 litter boxes isn't enough poop fun!

I didn't make time to play with the babies last night, though. Spitfire still hisses at me, Sybill comes for lovies - and I spend a bit of time with her. I cleaned their litter box, though, and filled all their bowls. They go through water like nobody's business! And they're eating like champions!

I've been thinking about this food situation of mine ... this having to spend half my weekend in the kitchen thing is getting to me. At the same time, it means spending almost no time cooking during the week.

The 'situation' is simply that, until recently, I could get away with a quick fried steak. Which I can no longer afford. So, I need to 'go back to' cooking. But I can't cook every evening, like I used to, years ago. Plus, I can't afford the electricity of the way I used to cook.

Ideally, I should look into 'freezer meals' - but: I can't afford to buy stacks of Tupperware, or really stacks of anything! I also can't afford to vacuum pack everything - those bags? Cost an arm and a leg!

So, there are multiple aspects to my problem: minimum time, different food (i.e. using cheaper cuts of meat & supplementing with more veggies & starch), storage containers ... and re-heating methods.

Looking for storage containers now ... Aluminium foil trays would be my first choice, as I'm familiar with them - but they are not re-usable. That takes me to silicone ... not a favourite. Need to make sure it's food grade silicone, and BPA-free, and 450F heat resistant. And they're only good for cooking / baking, not storage. Moving on ...

I think I'll get myself some of those snap-shut baking forms. They're relatively cheap. I can use those in the Pressure Cooker, when I want to make something like lasagna, or quiche or egg dishes, and such. Next month.

Ziplock bags are useless. They all seem to use them in their fancy cooking videos - <high pitched, artificially cheery voice> "Oh, they are sooo easy to use! I use them all the time!" Yeah ... you can afford to 'use-and-dispose'! I can't! And they're a real bugger to try and wash! I've tried!

I think I'll go with ice cream and margarine tubs, for now. In the freezer, that is. It's what I'm using for my tomato paste already. Though I think I should keep the tubs for food, and use some of those fruit juice bottles for liquids, like tomato paste, in future.

See what I mean about a food situation? Basically I'm completely changing my cook-and-eat lifestyle ... Sigh ... 

Anyway, it's twenty past two. Better publish, as I don't know whether I'll have internet at home ....